Original
Hindi
व्रजेन्द्रनन्दनके अभिनव सुन्दर मुखकमलका प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन करके गोपाङ्गनाएँ, गोपकुमारिकाएँ कृतार्थ हो चुकी हैं, निहाल हो गयी हैं। पर अभीतक व्रजपुरके गोपोंको यह परम सौभाग्य नहीं मिला है। वे तो अपनी पत्नियोंके, पुत्रियोंके मुखसे नन्दशिशुके अद्भुत सौन्दर्यका वर्णन सुनते हैं, सुननेमात्रसे ही परमानन्दसिन्धुमें निमग्न होकर अपनी-अपनी धारणाके अनुसार अपने हृत्पटपर शिशुका चित्राङ्कन करने लग जाते हैं। उनके भावकी तूलिका क्षणमात्रमें ही एक अनन्त असीम अनिर्वचनीय सुन्दर मूर्तिका निर्माण कर देती है तथा उसे देखकर वे इतना तन्मय हो जाते हैं कि कुछ समयके लिये उनका बाह्य ज्ञान सर्वथा लुप्त-सा हो जाता है। गोपबालाएँ अपना अनुभव सुनाती हुई गद्गद कण्ठसे कहती हैं—ओहो! शिशुके अङ्ग इतने स्वच्छ हैं, मानो उत्कृष्ट नवनीलकान्तमणिके अङ्कुर हों; इतने मृदु हैं, मानो तमालतरु-पल्लव हों; इतने स्निग्ध हैं, मानो वर्षणोन्मुख नवजलधरके नवाङ्कुर हों; इतने सुरभित हैं, मानो त्रैलोक्य-लक्ष्मीके भालपर कस्तूरी-तिलक हों; तथा इतने सुचिक्कण, इतने आकर्षणशील हैं, मानो सौभाग्यश्रीके नेत्रोंमें लगा हुआ सिद्धाञ्जन ही अङ्गोंके रूपमें मूर्त हो गया हो—
English translation
Having directly beheld the newly beautiful lotus face of the son of the king of Vraja, the cowherd women and young cowherd girls have attained the fulfilment of their lives and become utterly blessed. But the cowherd men of Vraja have not yet received this supreme good fortune. They hear from their wives and daughters descriptions of the wondrous beauty of Nanda's infant son. Merely by listening, they plunge into an ocean of supreme bliss and, each according to his own conception, begin to paint the child's image upon the canvas of the heart. In a moment, the brush of their devotional feeling creates a form of limitless, immeasurable, indescribable beauty. Gazing upon it, they become so absorbed that for a time their awareness of the outer world seems entirely lost. Recounting what they have experienced, the cowherd girls say in voices choked with emotion, “Oh! The infant's limbs are so pure, like shoots of the finest fresh blue sapphire; so tender, like young leaves of the tamāla tree; so lustrous, like the first growth of a newly formed rain cloud about to pour; so fragrant, like the musk mark upon the brow of the fortune of the three worlds; and so smooth and irresistibly attractive, as though the perfected collyrium adorning the eyes of blessed fortune itself had taken embodied form as His limbs.”
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrī Ānanda-vṛndāvana-campū
अङ्कुरमिव नवनीलमणीन्द्रस्य पल्लवमिव तमालस्य कन्दलमिव नवाम्भोदस्य कस्तूरिकातिलकमिव त्रैलोक्यलक्ष्म्याः सिद्धाञ्जनमिव सौभाग्यसम्पदः।
English translation
Like a shoot from a newly formed sovereign sapphire, like a young leaf of the tamāla tree, like the tender growth of a fresh rain cloud, like the musk mark upon the brow of the fortune of the three worlds, and like the perfected collyrium of the treasure of all blessedness.
Original
Hindi
गोपाङ्गनाओंका यह वर्णन मानो सजीव शिशु बनकर गोपोंके हृदय-मन्दिरमें प्रवेश करता है और वे एक अभूतपूर्व आनन्दसिन्धुमें निमग्न हो जाते हैं। पर साथ ही प्रत्यक्ष दर्शनकी उत्कण्ठा उन्हें क्षण-क्षणमें उत्तरोत्तर चञ्चल बनाती जा रही है। अब तो वे व्याकुल हो गये हैं कि ऐसे विलक्षण, अभूतपूर्व, अश्रुतपूर्व शिशुको शीघ्र-से-शीघ्र प्रत्यक्ष कैसे देखें। आज उनकी उत्कण्ठा चरम सीमाको पहुँच गयी है। इसीलिये आज ज्यों ही, “व्रजेश्वरीका सूतिकास्नान सानन्द सम्पन्न हो चुका है”, यह समाचार व्रजमें प्रसरित हुआ कि बस, उसी क्षण समस्त गोपमण्डली पुनः नन्दभवनकी ओर दौड़ पड़ी। देखते-ही-देखते व्रजपुरके समस्त गोपोंकी तुमुल आनन्दध्वनिसे नन्दप्रासाद निनादित होने लग गया।
English translation
The cowherd women's description seems to become the living infant Himself and enter the temple of the cowherd men's hearts, immersing them in an unprecedented ocean of joy. At the same time, their longing to see Him directly makes them increasingly restless with every passing moment. They are now overwhelmed by the desire to behold as soon as possible this extraordinary child, the like of whom has neither been seen nor even heard of before. Today their yearning has reached its utmost limit. Therefore, the moment the news spread through Vraja that “the queen of Vraja has joyfully completed her postnatal bath,” the entire company of cowherd men once again rushed toward Nanda's residence. In no time, Nanda's palace began to resound with the tremendous cries of joy raised by all the cowherds of Vraja.
Original
Hindi
व्रजेन्द्रके मनमें समस्त गोपोंके प्रति समान ममत्व, समान प्रेम है। आजतक जितने समारोह, जितने उत्सव व्रजेशके घर हुए, सबमें व्रजपुरके समस्त गोपोंको उन्होंने समान भावसे सूचना दी। पर आज जब कुलरीतिका अनुसरण करते हुए अपने पुत्रका मुख देखनेके लिये पुरवासियोंके निमन्त्रणका प्रश्न आया तो व्रजेन्द्रने केवल प्रमुख गोपोंको ही निमन्त्रित किया। इस भेदभावमें हेतु था अपने नवजात शिशुकी अनिष्ट-आशङ्का। व्रजराज दूतके मुखसे कंसके पैशाचिक निश्चयको सुन चुके हैं। तबसे उनका चित्त सशङ्कित है, क्या पता कंस-प्रेरित कोई राक्षस यहाँ आ जाय, गोपोंकी भीड़में मैं उसे पहचान न सकूँ और वह शिशुका अनिष्ट कर दे। इसलिये व्रजेन्द्रने यही उचित समझा कि आज अधिक भीड़ न होने पाये; नारायणकी कृपासे कुछ दिन सानन्द बीत जानेपर समयानुसार समस्त पुरवासियोंको बुलाकर पुत्रका मुख दिखा दिया जायगा, आज केवल प्रमुख गोपबन्धुओंको ही निमन्त्रितकर कुल-मर्यादाका पालन कर लिया जाय। इसी विचारसे विशिष्ट गोप ही निमन्त्रित हुए थे। किंतु ऐसा होनेपर भी, सबको निमन्त्रण न मिलनेपर भी सारा व्रजमण्डल उमड़ ही पड़ा। सचमुच अब निमन्त्रणकी आवश्यकता भी नहीं रही थी, अनिमन्त्रित ही सबका आना अनिवार्य था। भला, सरोवर अपने वक्षःस्थलपर पद्मश्रेणीका विकास हो जानेपर, उन विकसित पद्म-कुसुमोंकी पङ्क्तिसे गौरवान्वित होनेपर कहीं मधुलुब्ध भ्रमरोंको निमन्त्रित, आह्वान करने जाता है? भ्रमरावली तो बिना बुलाये अपने-आप ही आती है, वह आयेगी ही। नन्दकुल-सरोवरमें भी अनुपम सौरभशाली नील पद्मका विकास हुआ है; उसे अब रसलोभी अलिकुल, गोपकुलको आह्वान करनेकी आवश्यकता नहीं है, अलिकुल स्वयं आयेगा।
English translation
In his heart, the king of Vraja bears equal affection and equal love for every cowherd. At every ceremony and festival held in his home until now, he has sent word impartially to all the cowherds of Vraja. Today, however, when the family custom called for inviting the townspeople to see his son's face, he invited only the leading cowherds. The reason for this distinction was his fear that some harm might befall his newborn child. The king of Vraja had already heard from the messenger of Kaṁsa's fiendish resolve. Since then, his heart had remained apprehensive. A demon sent by Kaṁsa might come there, escape recognition amid the crowd of cowherds, and injure the child. Nanda therefore thought it proper not to allow too great a crowd that day. By Nārāyaṇa's grace, once a few days had passed happily, he would summon all the residents at a suitable time and show them his son's face. For the present, he would preserve the honour of the family custom by inviting only his foremost cowherd kinsmen. With this thought, only distinguished cowherds had been invited. Yet despite this, and though everyone had not received an invitation, the whole of Vraja came surging forth. Indeed, an invitation was no longer needed. It was inevitable that everyone should come unbidden. When rows of lotuses bloom upon the breast of a lake and adorn it with their open flowers, does the lake go out to invite and summon the honey-greedy bees? The swarm comes of itself, without being called. It cannot but come. In the lake of Nanda's family, too, a blue lotus of incomparable fragrance has blossomed. It has no need to summon the nectar-loving swarm, the community of cowherds. The bees will come of themselves.
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrī Gopāla-campū
श्रीमद्गोपनृपेण नूतनतनूजातस्य वीक्षाकृते प्राग्र्या एव निमन्त्रिता व्रजजनाः सर्वे तु तत्राययुः। यत्राम्भोजवनाकरः स्वकुसुमव्रातप्रकाशप्रथाव्याप्तः स्यात् किमु तर्हि षट्पदगणानाकारयत्यात्मना॥
English translation
The illustrious king of the cowherds invited only the foremost people of Vraja to behold his newborn son, yet all the residents of Vraja came there. When a lake filled with lotus groves becomes pervaded by the radiant splendour of its own multitude of flowers, does it then summon the hosts of bees by its own effort?
Original
Hindi
नन्दनन्दनको अपनी गोदमें लेकर वृद्धा उपनन्दपत्नी मणिस्तम्भके सहारे बैठी हैं। उनकी दाहिनी ओर घूँघट निकाले व्रजरानी विराजमान हैं। व्रजरानीके अत्यन्त निकट श्रीरोहिणीजी सुशोभित हैं तथा इन्हें तीन ओरसे घेरे हुए व्रजपुरकी कतिपय मान्य वयोवृद्धा गोपिकाएँ बैठी मङ्गल-गान कर रही हैं। अपनी पत्नीके बायें पार्श्वमें उपनन्दजी अतिशय विनम्र मुद्रामें खड़े हैं तथा उनकी बायीं ओर व्रजेन्द्र अञ्जलि बाँधे खड़े अपने बन्धु-बान्धवोंका स्वागत-सत्कार कर रहे हैं। इन सबके सामने, इस स्थानसे लेकर तोरण-द्वारतक ही नहीं, विस्तीर्ण राजपथतक दर्शनार्थी गोपोंकी अपार भीड़ खड़ी है। आगेकी पंक्ति जब दर्शन कर लेती है, किनारे होकर पथ दे देती है, तब पीछेकी पंक्ति आगे बढ़ पाती है। शिशुके अङ्गोंपर जहाँ एक बार गोपोंकी दृष्टि गयी कि वह वहीं स्थिर हो जाती है, हटती नहीं, हटना चाहती ही नहीं। पर पासमें खड़े हुए उपनन्दजी दर्शकके प्रति हाथोंसे पीछेकी अपार भीड़की ओर संकेत कर देते हैं तथा वह अपनी ही तरह अतिशय उत्कण्ठित अन्य दर्शनार्थीको अवकाश देनेके लिये शीलवश बाध्य होकर किनारे हट जाता है। उसने नन्दसुवनको देख लिया, किनारे हटते-हटते बार-बार दृष्टि घुमा-घुमाकर उस सलोने शिशुको देखा; पर आह! तृप्ति बिलकुल ही नहीं हुई, इतनी देर दर्शन करके भी आँखें तो दर्शनकी प्यासी ही लौट आयीं।
English translation
The aged wife of Upananda sits leaning against a jewelled pillar with Nanda's son in her lap. To her right sits the queen of Vraja, her veil drawn. Very close beside the queen is the radiant Śrī Rohiṇī, while several respected elderly cowherd women of Vraja sit around them on three sides, singing songs of blessing. Upananda stands to the left of his wife in a deeply humble posture, and to his left the king of Vraja stands with folded hands, welcoming and honouring his relatives and friends. Before them stretches an immense crowd of cowherd men awaiting darśana, filling not only the space up to the festooned gateway but even the broad royal road beyond it. When the front row has seen the child, it moves aside and opens a path so that the row behind may advance. Once the cowherds' gaze falls upon the infant's limbs, it becomes fixed there. It will not move away and has no wish to move. But Upananda, standing nearby, gestures to each viewer toward the vast crowd behind. Out of courtesy, the viewer is compelled to step aside and allow another equally eager person his opportunity. Having seen Nanda's son, he turns his eyes back again and again upon the charming infant even while moving aside. Alas, he is not satisfied at all. Despite gazing for so long, his eyes return still thirsty for the sight.
Original
Hindi
लौटते हुए उन दर्शकोंसे पीछेकी पंक्तिवाले कहते हैं—“दादा! तुमने देख लिया? मेरे आगे तो अभी अपार भीड़ खड़ी है। पता नहीं, कबतक मेरी बारी आयेगी। बताओ तो, शिशु कैसा सुन्दर है?” इनके उत्तरमें वे कुछ कहना चाहते हैं; पर उनका कण्ठ भर जाता है, वाणी रुद्ध हो जाती है, वे कुछ भी बोल नहीं पाते। उनकी आँखें भी भर आती हैं। छलकती हुई आँखें मानो संकेतमें उत्तर दे रही हों, “मेरे स्वामीके सखाओ! देखनेवाली तो मैं हूँ, उस अप्रतिम सौन्दर्यको मैंने अवश्य देखा है; पर विधाताने मुझमें बोलनेकी शक्ति नहीं दी, अपनी इसी दीनतापर रोती हुई तुमसे क्षमा चाहती हूँ। वाणीसे सुनकर उस रूपको यथार्थ हृदयङ्गम करनेकी आशा छोड़ दो; वाणीमें तो देखनेकी शक्ति ही नहीं है, वह बेचारी यथार्थ वर्णन कर ही नहीं सकती। जब तुम्हारे दर्शन-गोलकोंकी ओटसे मेरी ही स्वरूपभूता तुम्हारी आँखें देखेंगी, तभी तुम यथार्थमें अनुभव कर सकोगे कि यह नन्दनन्दन कितना सुन्दर है, कितना मधुर, मनोहर है।” गोपगण दर्शनके उपरान्त वस्त्र-आभूषणादि विविध उपहार शिशुके लिये दे रहे हैं। व्रजेन्द्र, भला, इस प्रेमपूर्ण उपहारकी उपेक्षा भी कैसे करते! उन्हें यह उपहारकी वस्तु नहीं प्रतीत हो रही है। वे तो इन वस्तुओंके एक-एक अणुको व्रजवासियोंके मङ्गलमय आशीर्वादसे भरा देख रहे हैं। उन्हें विश्वास है, इन बन्धु-बान्धवोंका आशीर्वाद अव्यर्थ होगा तथा मेरा लाल फूलेगा-फलेगा। इसी भावनासे वे प्रत्येक गोपका उपहार स्वीकार कर ले रहे हैं; इतना ही नहीं, अपनेको उनका चिरऋणी समझ रहे हैं।
English translation
Those in the rows behind call to the returning viewers, “Elder brother, have you seen Him? An enormous crowd still stands before me. Who knows when my turn will come? Tell me, how beautiful is the child?” They wish to answer, but their throats fill with emotion, their speech is checked, and they cannot utter a word. Their eyes, too, fill with tears. Those overflowing eyes seem to reply through signs, “O friends of my master, it is I, the eye, that sees. I have indeed beheld that incomparable beauty, but the Creator did not give me the power of speech. Weeping over this helplessness of mine, I ask your forgiveness. Abandon the hope of truly grasping that form merely by hearing words. Speech has no power to see, and therefore the poor thing cannot describe Him as He truly is. Only when your own eyes, which are of my very nature, behold Him from behind the spheres of your vision will you truly experience how beautiful, how sweet and enchanting, this son of Nanda is.” After receiving darśana, the cowherds offer the infant various gifts of garments, ornaments, and other articles. How could the king of Vraja disregard such loving offerings? To him they do not appear to be mere objects given as presents. He sees every particle of them filled with the auspicious blessings of the residents of Vraja. He trusts that the blessings of these kinsmen and friends will not fail and that his darling boy will flourish. With this feeling he accepts each cowherd's gift and even regards himself as forever indebted to them.
Original
Hindi
मुख देखनेकी लालसासे आये हुए व्रजगोपोंका मनोरथ पूर्ण हुआ। वे गोप घर लौटे। अभी-अभी शिशुका मुख देखकर आये हैं; पर ऐसा अनुभव हो रहा है, मानो उस मधुर-मनोहर मुखको देखे हुए कितने ही दिन व्यतीत हो गये हैं, फिर चलें, फिर देखें—
English translation
The longing of the cowherds who had come to see the child's face was fulfilled, and they returned home. They had only just come from beholding Him, yet they felt as though many days had passed since they had seen that sweet and captivating face. Let us go again, they thought. Let us see Him once more.
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrī Gopāla-campū
आगता निजगृहं यदाप्यमूर्नन्दबालमवलोक्य लोभनम्। हन्त तर्ह्यपि दिनानि कानिचिन्मेनिरे दृशि गतं व्रजप्रजाः॥
English translation
Although the people of Vraja returned to their own homes after beholding the enchanting child of Nanda, alas, even then they felt that many days had passed since He had come within their sight.
Original
Hindi
अब सायंकाल हो चुका है। इस समय तपस्विनी भगवती पौर्णमासी यशोदानन्दनको आशीर्वाद देने पधारी हैं। इनके साथ वह परम हँसमुख मधुमङ्गल नामक ब्राह्मणकुमार भी है। देवीका व्रजमें बड़ा आदर है, यद्यपि इनके एवं कुमारके जीवनके सम्बन्धमें व्रजवासियोंको बहुत ही कम परिचय प्राप्त हो सका है; जिस दिन ये व्रजमें पधारीं, उस दिन पूछनेपर इन्हींके मुखसे पुरवासियोंने केवल इतना सुना है—
English translation
Evening has now arrived. At this time the ascetic goddess Paurṇamāsī comes to bless Yaśodā's son. With her is the exceedingly cheerful young brāhmaṇa named Madhumaṅgala. The goddess is held in great esteem throughout Vraja, although the residents have learned very little about her life or that of the boy. On the day she first arrived in Vraja, the townspeople questioned her, but heard only this much from her own lips.
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrī Gopāla-campū
पौर्णमासीनाम्नी, कात्यायनी च कुमारश्रमणा च पारिकाङ्क्षिणी चेक्षिणिका चास्मि। अयं च मधुमङ्गलनामा स्नातकः श्रीनारदप्रकृतिः। आवां च विद्याविशेषेणैतद्वयस्कावेव सदा विद्यावहे।
English translation
“I am named Paurṇamāsī. I wear ochre garments, am a youthful celibate ascetic, live in expectation of the other shore, and possess the sight of an astrologer. This boy is a graduate named Madhumaṅgala, whose nature resembles that of the divine sage Nārada. By a special science, the two of us always remain at precisely these ages.”
Original
Hindi
“मेरा नाम पौर्णमासी है, मैं सदा काषाय वस्त्र धारण करती हूँ, बालब्रह्मचारिणी तपस्विनी हूँ तथा ज्योतिष जाननेवाली हूँ।* और यह बालक स्नातक है, इसका नाम मधुमङ्गल है, इसकी प्रकृति देवर्षि नारदके समान है। एक विशेष विद्याके प्रभावसे हम दोनोंकी आयु सदा एक-सी, इतनी ही बनी रहती है।” इससे अधिक व्रजवासी इनके सम्बन्धमें कुछ भी नहीं जान सके हैं, फिर भी सबका इनपर जन्मदात्री माताकी तरह विश्वास हो गया है। इन्होंने ही सर्वप्रथम व्रजवासियोंके सामने भविष्यवाणी की थी—
English translation
“My name is Paurṇamāsī. I always wear ochre cloth, I am a young lifelong celibate and ascetic, and I know astrology.* This boy is a graduate named Madhumaṅgala, and his nature is like that of the divine sage Nārada. Through the power of a special science, the ages of both of us always remain the same, just as they are now.” The residents of Vraja could learn nothing more about them, yet everyone came to trust her as one trusts the mother who gave one birth. It was she who first made this prophecy before the residents of Vraja.
Original
Hindi. Book note
- अनन्तशक्तिमान् भगवान् की अघटघटनापटीयसी योगमाया शक्ति ही देवी पौर्णमासीके रूपमें मूर्त होकर व्रजमें निवास करती हैं।
English translation
- It is the Yogamāyā potency of the infinitely powerful Lord, expert in making the impossible possible, who assumes embodied form as Goddess Paurṇamāsī and dwells in Vraja.
Original
Sanskrit. Source: Śrī Gopāla-campū
भवतां प्राणकन्दस्य श्रीमन्नन्दस्य जगदानन्दः स खलु नन्दनः सम्भविता।
English translation
“The illustrious Nanda, the very root of your lives, will have a son, and that child will surely be the joy of the whole universe.”
Original
Hindi
“आपके प्राणाधार श्रीमान् नन्दको एक पुत्र होगा तथा वह निश्चय ही जगदानन्दरूप होगा।” तबसे व्रजवासी इनपर न्योछावर हो गये हैं। इनके लिये गोपोंने कालिन्दी-तटपर एक पर्णकुटीका निर्माण कर दिया है। ये उसीमें निवास करती हैं।
English translation
“Your very life, the illustrious Nanda, will have a son, and He will certainly be joy incarnate for the universe.” From that time onward, the residents of Vraja devoted themselves utterly to her. The cowherds built a leaf-thatched cottage for her on the bank of the Kālindī, and she lives there.
Original
Hindi
दिनभर अपार दर्शनार्थियोंका अभिनन्दन समाप्त कर व्रजरानी अपने हृदयधनको वक्षःस्थलसे सटाकर स्तन्यपान करा रही थीं, किंतु भगवती पौर्णमासीपर दृष्टि पड़ते ही वे शीघ्रतासे उठकर खड़ी हो गयीं। अपनी अशुचि-अवस्थाकी स्मृति हो जानेसे तपस्विनीका स्पर्श करनेमें एक बार तो झिझकीं, पर देवीकी अतिशय सौम्य मुद्रा उन्हें बरबस खींच लेती है। व्रजेश्वरी अपना मस्तक झुकाकर उनके चरणोंका स्पर्श करती हैं। इसके पश्चात् सहारेसे धीरे-धीरे अपने उस इन्द्रनीलद्युति शिशुको छातीसे उठाकर चरणोंमें रख देती हैं। देवी वहीं बैठ जाती हैं और अपना दाहिना हाथ यशोदानन्दनके सिरपर रखकर नेत्र बन्द कर लेती हैं। इसी समय पासमें खड़ा हुआ मधुमङ्गल पुकार उठता है, “जननि यशोदे! ऊपर देखो, ऊपर। हंस, वृषभ, मयूर, हाथी, रथ, हरिण आदि विविध वाहनोंपर सवार चित्र-विचित्र आकृतिवाले कितने लोग तुम्हारे पुत्रका मुख देख रहे हैं! ये एक बार पहले भी आये थे। व्रजके आकाशमें उड़ते हुए मैं कल भी इन्हें देख चुका हूँ।” ब्राह्मणकुमारकी बातसे आश्चर्य और भयसे युक्त होकर व्रजरानी तथा अन्य गोपिकाएँ ऊपरकी ओर देखने लगीं। पर उन्हें कुछ भी नहीं दीखा। भगवती पौर्णमासी आँखें खोलकर मुसकराने लगीं तथा भयभीत नन्दरानीको आश्वासन देकर बोलीं, “भयकी कोई बात नहीं है। अन्तरिक्षमें देवताओंका निवास रहता ही है। हठात् दिव्यदृष्टिका उन्मेष हो जानेसे मधुमङ्गलने उन्हें देख लिया है।”
English translation
After spending the whole day receiving the countless visitors who had come for darśana, the queen of Vraja held the treasure of her heart close to her breast and nursed Him. The moment her eyes fell upon Goddess Paurṇamāsī, however, she quickly rose to her feet. Remembering her own state of ritual impurity, she hesitated for an instant to touch the ascetic, but the goddess's exceedingly gentle bearing drew her forward irresistibly. Bowing her head, the queen of Vraja touched Paurṇamāsī's feet. Then, supporting herself and moving slowly, she lifted from her breast her infant radiant like a blue sapphire and placed Him at the goddess's feet. Paurṇamāsī sat down there, placed her right hand upon Yaśodā's son's head, and closed her eyes. At that very moment Madhumaṅgala, who was standing nearby, cried out, “Mother Yaśodā, look above, look above! So many people with all manner of extraordinary forms are gazing upon your son's face. They ride upon swans, bulls, peacocks, elephants, chariots, deer, and many other vehicles. They came once before as well. I saw them yesterday, flying in the sky over Vraja.” Astonished and frightened by the young brāhmaṇa's words, the queen of Vraja and the other cowherd women looked upward, but they could see nothing. Goddess Paurṇamāsī opened her eyes and smiled. Reassuring the frightened queen Nanda, she said, “There is nothing to fear. The gods naturally dwell in the heavens. Madhumaṅgala has seen them because his divine sight suddenly opened.”
Original
Hindi
यह कहकर आशीर्वाद देती हुई देवी पौर्णमासी अपनी पर्णकुटीकी ओर चल पड़ीं।
English translation
After saying this and bestowing her blessing, Goddess Paurṇamāsī set out for her leaf-thatched cottage.
Original
Hindi
व्रजमें आज भी रातभर उत्सव होता रहा।
English translation
Once again, the celebration in Vraja continued throughout the night.
Original
Hindi
अब व्रजेन्द्रनन्दनके जन्मका तृतीय उत्सवमय प्रभात हुआ। फिर चार पहर बाद नृत्य-गीतमयी तृतीय संध्या आयी। इसी तरह व्रजवासियोंके आनन्द-कोलाहलपर अपनी प्रफुल्ल किरणोंकी वर्षा करने भगवान् अंशुमाली चतुर्थ, पञ्चम एवं षष्ठ दिवस भी आये और चले गये।
English translation
The third festive dawn since the birth of the king of Vraja's son now arrived. Four watches later came the third evening, filled with dance and song. In this same way, Lord Aṁśumālī, the radiant sun, came on the fourth, fifth, and sixth days, showered his joyous rays upon the jubilant tumult of the people of Vraja, and then departed.
Original
Hindi
अब छठी रात्रिमें व्रजेन्द्र अपने पुत्रकी मङ्गलकामनासे सूतिका-षष्ठीकी पूजा करने बैठे हैं।
English translation
Now, on the sixth night, the king of Vraja sits down to worship Sūtikā-Ṣaṣṭhī for the welfare of his son.
Original
Hindi
षष्ठी देवीकी अतिशय सुन्दर, गोमयकी प्रतिमा बनायी गयी। शुक्लतन्दुलमयी वेदिकापर प्रतिमाको पधराकर विधिपूर्वक कलशस्थापनादि करके षोडशोपचारसे व्रजेन्द्रने पूजा की। फिर कुलप्रथाके अनुसार व्रजरानीने अपने लालकी छठी पूजी—
English translation
An exceedingly beautiful image of Goddess Ṣaṣṭhī was fashioned from cow dung. The image was installed upon an altar made of white rice. After duly establishing the sacred vessel and completing the other prescribed rites, the king of Vraja worshipped her with the sixteen traditional offerings. Then, in accordance with the custom of the family, the queen of Vraja performed the sixth-day observance for her darling son.
Original
Braj. Attributed in the verse to Sūrdās
गोद लिएँ गोपाल जसोदा पूजत छठी मुदित मन प्यारी। बड़े बार-सनेह चुचाते चूँबत मुख दै-दै चुचुकारी॥ पूजत छठी जु कान्ह कुँवर की थापे पीत लगाई। कंचर-थार लिएँ ब्रजबनिता रोचन देत सुहाई॥
× × ×
आँजति आँखि जु सबहि सुवासिन, माँगत नैन भराए। सूरदास-प्रभु तुम चिरजीयौ, घर-घर मंगल गाए॥
English translation
Holding Gopāla in her lap, dear Yaśodā joyfully worships on the sixth day. With boundless motherly love she nurses Him, kisses His face, and coos to Him again and again.
As she performs the sixth-day worship of Prince Kānha, a yellow handprint is placed. The women of Vraja hold a golden tray and beautifully apply the auspicious yellow pigment.
× × ×
All the married women apply collyrium to His eyes, asking their blessing with eyes brimming full. Sūrdās says: “My Lord, may You live long,” while songs of good fortune resound in every home.
Original
Hindi
व्रजरानी छठी पूजकर मोतियोंके चौकसे अभी उठ भी नहीं पायी थीं कि उनके पुत्रकी छठी पूजनेवालोंका ताँता बँध गया—
English translation
The queen of Vraja had not yet risen from the pearl-decorated ceremonial square after completing the sixth-day worship when an unbroken stream of people formed to perform the observance for her son.
Original
Braj. Attributed in the verse to Śrī Viṭṭhala
फिरि-फिरि ग्वाल-गोप सब पूजत, अरु पूजत ब्रजनारी। श्रीबिट्ठल गिरिधर चिरजीवौ, माँगत ओलि पसारी॥
English translation
Again and again all the cowherd boys and men worship Him, and the women of Vraja worship Him too. Śrī Viṭṭhala says: “May Giridhara live long,” as they spread out their cupped palms and beg this blessing.
Original
Hindi
रात्रि-जागरणका तो आज शास्त्रीय विधान ही है। नहीं भी होता तो भी व्रजराजको तो जगना ही है। आज ही नहीं, छः दिन हो गये, उन्हें एक क्षणके लिये भी निद्रा नहीं आयी। यह बात नहीं कि अवसर ही नहीं मिला। दो पहर रात बीतनेपर तो व्रजरानीका, उपनन्द आदिका अतिशय आग्रह होनेके कारण उन्हें विश्रामागारमें जाना ही पड़ता। सूतिकागारके एक पार्श्ववर्ती गृहमें दुग्धधवल सुकोमल शय्यापर वे जाकर लेट जाते। पर लेटते ही मणिमय भित्तिका व्यवधान बीचसे अन्तर्हित हो जाता; व्रजराज वहीं लेटे-लेटे देखने लगते, व्रजरानीके वक्षःस्थलपर नीलद्युति शिशु विश्राम कर रहा है। ओह! व्रजेश्वरीका शरीर तो मानो अपराजिता लता हो और शिशु उसका सुन्दरतम विकसित प्रसून। व्रजराजकी वृत्ति उस चिन्मय प्रसूनमें ही लय हो जाती, माया, निद्रामें नहीं।
English translation
Tonight the scriptures themselves prescribe keeping vigil. Even had they not done so, the king of Vraja would still have remained awake. It is not only tonight. For six days he has not slept even for a moment. This is not because he has had no opportunity. After half the night has passed, the insistent urging of the queen of Vraja, Upananda, and the others obliges him to enter the resting chamber. He goes to an adjoining room beside the lying-in chamber and reclines upon a soft bed white as milk. But the moment he lies down, the intervening jewelled wall vanishes from between them. Still reclining there, the king of Vraja begins to see the blue-radiant infant resting upon the queen of Vraja's breast. Oh! The body of the queen of Vraja seems to be a vine of aparājitā blossoms, and the infant its loveliest flower in full bloom. The current of the king of Vraja's awareness dissolves only into that conscious, divine flower, never into māyā in the form of sleep.